?Chapter 1601:


    Rhys didn’t get angry when Harlee publicly challenged him. Instead, he cooperated and lifted Patrick’s punishment. Rhys hadn’t actually nned to do anything to Patrick in the first ce. It was just that Harlee had wanted to see some drama, so he had stepped in to create it.


    Harlee’s days settled into afortable rhythm, shuttling between the Remson Manor, where she spent her nights with Rhys, and her daytime visits with her family at the Sanderson family’s house. Her days passed in a rxed and carefree manner.


    A few dayster, deep in a Gruinian rainforest, Aldrich rxed in casual attire, his legzily thrown over a tree branch. He wore a mosquito-repellent bracelet, a clever creation of Harlee’s.


    On his monitor, male recruits were camouged shirtless, blending into their environment, while the female recruits sported light military tops, their arms also painted to match the surroundings.


    Aldrich enjoyed a sip of juice that had been delivered by air as he watched the spirited activity on the battlefield.


    “Ah, these recruits are bursting with energy, always quick to engage but not quite mastering the art of stealth.”


    Suddenly, a clear, icy voice sounded behind him, “Did I instruct you to teach them stealth?”


    Startled, Aldrich nearly lost his bnce and tumbled from his perch. Luckily, he managed to catch a vine andnd safely next to Harlee.


    “Harlee, you’ve finally finished up things in Baythorn! You can’t imagine how exhausting these past days have been for me, constantly monitoring these screens!” Aldrich eximed with a mix of joy and relief. His expression quickly morphed into one of exaggerated fatigue, his performance seamless.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    Harlee, eyebrow arched, focused on the monitor where Thiago and Lionel’s red team shed with Alina and Rita’s blue team.


    Because Patrick hadn’te to oversee the training previously, the two sides couldn’t match each other in numbers, resulting in two fewer female soldiers on one team.


    Catching Harlee’s gaze on the screen, Aldrich said, “Harlee, what do you think of the training exercise I set up? Doesn’t it push them to their limits?”


    Patrick, standing behind them, watched carefully for a long time, deeply impressed. One had to admit that Aldrich was truly talented in this area. He was confident that after this training, the recruits, including Thiago and Alina, would see significant improvement.


    “Aldrich, could you exin your training methods to meter?” Patrick asked, eager to learn.


    “Of course, no problem,” Aldrich replied generously.


    Harlee interjected with a chill in her voice, “Didn’t I specify no high-tech gear? They were supposed to use primitive methods.”


    Aldrich quickly turned serious.


    “Initially, that was the n, but these recruits are struggling. They rely too much on technology to advance. Since you wanted…”


    They had to survive, but alsoplete their daily training tasks. For each day they failed to meet their objectives, another day was added to their trial.


    Their pleas and protests were met with Aldrich’s chilling smile as he reminded them to persevere. If not, he would personally send them back to their original units and feed theirrades vivid stories of them surrendering in the face of the intense training.


    Indeed, Aldrich’s methods involved not just physical, but intense psychological torture, making him far more fearsome than Harlee ever was.


    The recruits were excited at the sight of Harlee.


    “Ms. Sanderson!”


    “Thank goodness, Ms. Sanderson, you’re finally here!”


    “Ms. Sanderson, if you hadn’t arrived, we would have been pushed to our limits!”


    Aldrich surveyed the group of recruits with a sly grin. Heh? He doubted Harlee would take their side.


    .


    .


    .